Chamber has successful summer, makes plans for fall

As the days continue to get shorter and cooler, Carter County Chamber of Commerce members have reflected on a wonderful summer and are currently looking forward to the months ahead. The Annual Community Wide Garage Sale that takes place in June of each year was originally postponed with the possibility of a fall sale. Members at the September meeting voted to wait until next June for public safety.

July 4 brought a summer storm followed by a beautiful sky full of fireworks in Ekalaka. The chamber would like to extend sincere gratitude to Mark Wright, Pat Strickland and the rest of the Ekalaka Volunteer Fire Department for all of their hard work in making everyone’s patriotic hearts swell with pride!

Carter County Chamber of Commerce also thanks this year’s fireworks display sponsors:

• Muth Electric

• Pat & Denice Strickland

• Deb & Wayne Yost

• Monte Lou & Dougie Monro

• Jim & Carole Carey

• North Star Construction

• Wright Construction

• Community 1st Federal Credit Union

• Markuson Ranch

• Walt Anderson

• Southeast Electric

• A&A Stieg

• Star Service, Inc

• Jerry & Betty Cline

• Carter County Geological Society

• Jim & Rebecca McCabe

Th Days of ‘85 kicked off August! Mikel Fruit and the parade committee organize the parade every year and it just keeps getting better. This year, area children were invited to participate in a bicycle parade and rode their bikes up and down Main Street prior to the parade. This seems like it could be a tradition in the making. Chamber members are thankful to Fruit and the committee for everything they do for the Days of ‘85 Parade.

The chamber’s annual FestiFall has been set for October 23. Once again, there will be a chili cook-off and all are invited to get their best recipe and crock pot ready. There will also be a family photo booth and pumpkin patch set up. The chamber’s Facebook page will include details at a later date.

Recently, the Lion’s Club generously donated $10,000 to the Carter County Chamber. Funds will be used to make the chamber more sufficient and strengthen its mission of economic growth within the community. During the September meeting, it was suggested to use the funds, at least in part, to increase the chamber’s online presence with a user-friendly website and possibly even a mobile app.

In other chamber news, plans to kick start the Montana Mainstreet Program are in full swing, beginning with a stakeholder’s meeting (date and time to be determined). This will be a meeting with Main Street business owners and representatives from Carter County Museum, Ekalaka Public Schools and the town to discuss concerns and projects taking place in Ekalaka with the Montana Department of Commerce. They will be offering mentorship as well as assisting in finding funds for these projects.

Carter County Chamber of Commerce members are thrilled with all of the opportunities laid out. Members would love to see more individuals and businesses get involved.

The next regular meeting of the chamber has been scheduled for October 8, 6 p.m. at Wagon Wheel Café.